Man shot and protester arrested at pro-Israel protest in Newton

A brawl at a pro-Israel demonstration in Newton on Thursday evening culminated in a shooting in which a man suffered life-threatening injuries.

At a press conference Thursday evening, Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan said Newton police arrived at the scene near the corner of Washington St. and Harvard St. around 6:40 p.m.

“On one side of the street there was a small group of people demonstrating, pro-Israel protesters,” Ryan said. “On the other side of the street there was a person who seemed to be walking at random. Words were being exchanged across the street.”

Ryan said the man – whose identity was not disclosed – eventually crossed the street and allegedly jumped on one of the protesters.

“A scuffle ensued. During that scuffle, the individual who had crossed the street was shot by a member of the protesting group,” said Ryan, who identified the suspected shooter as 47-year-old Scott Hayes of Framingham. Hayes is scheduled to be arraigned on Friday on charges of assault with a dangerous weapon and violation of a constitutional right with bodily injury. It is not yet clear whether he is represented by an attorney.

The shooting came amid ongoing protests against the Gaza war, which has now lasted nearly a year. At the press conference Thursday evening, Newton's acting police chief George McMains said his department would increase its presence near potentially sensitive locations.

“The Newton Police Department will be conducting additional patrols of places of worship over the next few days and beyond as we deem appropriate or necessary,” McMains said.

Newton Mayor Ruthanne Fuller called for restraint during the investigation.

“I have two requests,” Fuller said. “First, let the Newton Police Department do their job and get the facts right. Second, I ask everyone to remain calm.”